You may want to investigate the concept of Wabi-Sabi (yes, there is a wikipedia entry). It may be more appropriate, comfortable, and “real” to you than Minimalisms striving for “perfection”. Certainly Wabi-sabi will be easier for a household that includes three dogs.

Also–check out “World of Interiors”–a British decor magazine. You won’t find the banal line up of over the top decors in some of the usual suspects–Elle Decor, Architectural Digest, etc–but you will find some absolutely great ideas on how people actually live.

Good luck.

“Minimalist” is actually not the right word. That’s the problem with blogging. Sometimes you grab the wrong word without giving it enough thought.

I would encourage you to check your bias about minimal design though. If that’s the way some people live, it’s very alive to them, even if it may not appear do to other.

One of my peeves is when people on design blogs comment that they want homes more alive or lived-in as if there is a more omnipotent standard associated with those terms. The diversity of what is alive or lived-in is as great as the diversity of the people doing the living.

It’s great that you have your husband to be friendly with the neighbours. Hopefully you can make some good connexions and live in true community. One thing about gentrification is that some qualities that make a neighbourhood appealing (being “alive” as you say) are what go away as the mostly-white middle class takes over.

The documentary Flag Wars might be of interest to you. Already you are developing a less antagonistic relationship that those shown in the movie, but I think it’s still worth seeing.

xoxox